Automatic self-adjusting software image recommendation

Abstract

A method of updating a desired state of a virtualization software for a cluster of hosts includes: in response to a notification of a change associated with the cluster, determining versions of a base image of the virtualization software that are compatible with the cluster; for each compatible version of the base image, determining versions of an add-on image of the virtualization software that are compatible with the compatible version of the base image and the cluster; presenting as a recommended image a complete image of the virtualization software, the complete image containing a first version of the base image that is compatible with the cluster and a first version of the add-on image that is compatible with the first version of the base image and the cluster; and upon acceptance of the recommended image, updating a software specification to include the recommended image.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of updating a desired state of a virtualization software for installation in a cluster of hosts, wherein the virtualization software includes at least a base image and an add-on image, said method comprising:
 in response to a notification of a change associated with the cluster, determining versions of the base image that have been validated as being compatible with a hardware platform of a first host of the cluster, wherein each compatible version of the base image includes a core kernel component; 
 for each compatible version of the base image, determining versions of the add-on image that have been validated as being compatible with the compatible version of the base image and with the hardware platform of the first host; 
 presenting, as a recommended image, a complete image of the virtualization software, the complete image containing a first one of the compatible versions of the base image and a first one of the compatible versions of the add-on image; and 
 upon acceptance of the recommended image, updating a software specification to include the recommended image, the software specification expressing the desired state of the virtualization software, wherein in response to the software specification being updated to include the recommended image, the first host installs the recommended image thereon. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the change associated with the cluster is an addition of a hardware device to any host of the cluster or a removal of a hardware device from any host of the cluster. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the change associated with the cluster is a version update of a driver in any host of the cluster or a version update of firmware in any host of the cluster. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the change associated with the cluster is a change to the software specification or a change to contents of an image depot, the image depot storing metadata and payloads of different versions of the base image and different versions of the add-on image. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the change associated with the cluster is a change to the contents of a hardware compatibility database, the hardware compatibility database comprising a list of all hardware devices installed in the cluster and, for each installed hardware device, all versions of device firmware and drivers that are compatible therewith. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the change associated with the cluster is any host being added to or removed from the cluster. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 validating the compatible versions of the base image by determining, for each compatible version of the base image, that software components therein are listed by a hardware compatibility database, the hardware compatibility database comprising a list of all hardware devices installed in the cluster and versions of software components compatible with the listed hardware devices; and 
 for each compatible version of the base image, validating the compatible versions of the add-on image by determining, for each compatible version of the add-on image, that there are no software dependencies and conflicts violated with the compatible version of the base image, and that software components therein are listed by the hardware compatibility database. 
 
     
     
       8. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that are executable in a computer system, wherein the instructions when executed cause the computer system to carry out a method of updating a desired state of a virtualization software for installation in a cluster of hosts, wherein the virtualization software includes at least a base image and an add-on image, and wherein said method comprises:
 in response to a notification of a change associated with the cluster, determining versions of the base image that have been validated as being compatible with a hardware platform of a first host of the cluster, wherein each compatible version of the base image includes a core kernel component; 
 for each compatible version of the base image, determining versions of the add-on image that have been validated as being compatible with the compatible version of the base image and with the hardware platform of the first host; 
 presenting, as a recommended image, a complete image of the virtualization software, the complete image containing a first one of the compatible versions of the base image and a first one of the compatible versions of the add-on image; and 
 upon acceptance of the recommended image, updating a software specification to include the recommended image, the software specification expressing the desired state of the virtualization software, wherein in response to the software specification being updated to include the recommended image, the first host installs the recommended image thereon. 
 
     
     
       9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the change associated with the cluster is an addition of a hardware device to any host of the cluster or a removal of a hardware device from any host of the cluster. 
     
     
       10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the change associated with the cluster is a version update of a driver in any host of the cluster or a version update of firmware in any host of the cluster. 
     
     
       11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the change associated with the cluster is a change to the software specification or a change to contents of an image depot, the image depot storing metadata and payloads of different versions of the base image and different versions of the add-on image. 
     
     
       12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the change associated with the cluster is a change to the contents of a hardware compatibility database, the hardware compatibility database comprising a list of all hardware devices installed in the cluster and, for each installed hardware device, all versions of device firmware and drivers that are compatible therewith. 
     
     
       13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the change associated with the cluster is any host being added to or removed from the cluster. 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein said method further comprises:
 validating the compatible versions of the base image by determining, for each compatible version of the base image, that software components therein are listed by a hardware compatibility database, the hardware compatibility database comprising a list of all hardware devices installed in the cluster and versions of software components compatible with the listed hardware devices; and 
 for each compatible version of the base image, validating the compatible versions of the add-on image by determining, for each compatible version of the add-on image, that there are no software dependencies and conflicts violated with the compatible version of the base image, and that software components therein are listed by the hardware compatibility database. 
 
     
     
       15. A computer system comprising:
 a plurality of physical hosts; and 
 a management server executing instructions to manage the physical hosts as a cluster and to update a desired state of a virtualization software for installation in the physical hosts, wherein the management server is a physical server, and the instructions cause the management server to carry out a method comprising:
 in response to a notification of a change associated with the cluster, determining versions of a base image that have been determined as being compatible with a hardware platform of a first physical host of the cluster, wherein each compatible version of the base image includes a core kernel component; 
 for each compatible version of the base image, determining versions of an add-on image that have been validated as being compatible with the compatible version of the base image and with the hardware platform of the first physical host; 
 presenting, as a recommended image, a complete image of the virtualization software, the complete image containing a first one of the compatible versions of the base image and a first one of the compatible versions of the add-on image; and 
 upon acceptance of the recommended image, updating a software specification to include the recommended image, the software specification expressing the desired state of the virtualization software, wherein in response to the software specification being updated to include the recommended image, the first physical host installs the recommended image thereon. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the change associated with the cluster is any physical host being added to or removed from the cluster. 
     
     
       17. The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the change associated with the cluster is an addition of a hardware device to any physical host of the cluster or a removal of a hardware device from any physical host of the cluster. 
     
     
       18. The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the change associated with the cluster is a version update of a driver in any physical host of the cluster or a version update of firmware in any physical host of the cluster. 
     
     
       19. The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the change associated with the cluster is a change to the software specification or a change to contents of an image depot, the image depot storing metadata and payloads of different versions of the base image and different versions of the add-on image. 
     
     
       20. The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein said method further comprises:
 validating the compatible versions of the base image by determining, for each compatible version of the base image, that software components therein are listed by a hardware compatibility database, the hardware compatibility database comprising a list of all hardware devices installed in the cluster and versions of software components compatible with the listed hardware devices; and 
 for each compatible version of the base image, validating the compatible versions of the add-on image by determining, for each compatible version of the add-on image, that there are no software dependencies and conflicts violated with the compatible version of the base image, and that software components therein are listed by the hardware compatibility database.